In the River Conway at Gored Wyddno was the salmon weir of Gwyddno, who had lost his land through the inundation of the sea in Cardigan Bay. He had a son called Elphin, who had so wasted his substance that he was obliged to fall back on his father for help, and Gwyddno consented to allow him for a while the profit of his salmon weir. Coming one morning to it he found there a babe in a leather bag, apparently a leather-covered coracle that had drifted down-stream. “What a bright-browed little chap!” exclaimed Elphin, so Taliessin, or Bright-brow, became his name, and he grew up to be a famous bard. At Christmas, long after this, Elphin was at the court of Maelgwn at Deganwy, and the bards then vied with one another in flattering the king and his queen. He was the handsomest, the wisest, the mightiest of monarchs, and she was the loveliest and most virtuous woman in the world. Elphin had the indiscretion to demur to this, and say that his wife was the chastest on earth. The story runs something like that of Posthumus and Imogen, but there are differences. Maelgwn, highly incensed, ordered Elphin to be cast into prison, and sent his son Rhun to test the lady. But Elphin had time to forewarn her, and she dressed her maid in her clothes, and put his ring on her finger. Rhun was completely deceived; he returned to Deganwy, and cast a finger with a ring on it upon the table, and declared that he had cut it off from the false wife’s hand. Elphin was brought from prison, and was shown the finger. “It is not that of my wife,” said he, “for the finger is larger than hers, and the ring has not been put on it further than the middle joint. The nail has not been cut for a month, whereas my lady trims her nails every Saturday. She from whom this finger has been cut has been recently baking rye bread--you may see the dough under the nail. That is what my wife never does.” So the laugh was turned against Rhun. CHAPTER IX S. ASAPH Situation of the city--The cathedral--Tomb of Bishop Barrow--Epitaph of Dean Lloyd--The _Red Book of S. Asaph_--Dick of Aberdaron--Parish church--Catherine of Berain--Meiriadog--The legend of Cynan, and of the Eleven Thousand Virgins--Ffynnon Fair--Cefn caves--Plas Newydd--Cawr Rhufoniog--Covered avenue--Rhuddlan--The air “Morfa Rhuddlan”--Welsh airs--Need for careful examination and discrimination--Stories connected with certain tunes--Welsh hymn tunes--Gruffydd ab Llewelyn--Constitution of Rhuddlan--Edward “Prince of Wales.” THE city of S. Asaph is pleasantly planted, for the most part, on rising ground above the River Elwy, in the vale of the Clwyd, which unites with the Elwy below this miniature city.